Use of a flexible fiberoptic laparoscope as a diagnostic aid in cattle.

This study was performed to examine the use of a flexible fiberoptic colonoscope as a diagnostic aid in cattle. Examinations were carried out on a group of normal animals and the effects of laparoscopy on hematological parameters measured. The use of laparoscopy in the diagnosis of left displacement of the abomasum and traumatic reticuloperitonitis was assessed in two separate groups of patients. The results were compared to clinical diagnosis and exploratory laparotomy. No effect was demonstrated on the results of haematological examination in the normal cows and the procedure was concluded to be safe and innocuous. Right flank laparoscopy was not useful in detecting left displacement of the abomasum in any case in this study was not helpful in making a diagnosis. The difficulties of current methods of diagnosing left displacement of the abomasum are discussed. Laparoscopy was useful in detecting and characterizing the lesions of traumatic reticuloperitonitis and was concluded to be superior to clinical examination as a diagnostic test.